Canadian rally: Mitsubishi Brigade goes back to work at the Baie des Chaleurs rally

Toronto (June 24th, 2009) – The Canadian Rally Championship is moving back east to the Gaspe Peninsula for the Rallye Baie des Chaleurs, this coming weekend and Mitsubishi will have no less than nine teams entered looking for a second victory this season and a third podium finish. Winners of the first event in February, Antoine L’Estage and codriver Nathalie Richard from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, will be first on the road Friday evening in their 2009 Lancer Evolution while Torontonian Andrew Comrie-Picard in a similar car will be third in a very impressive 48-car starting grid. 

Supporting the two tenors that will vie for an outright win, the Boisvert Mitsubishi Synchro team from Blainville will have four Evolution Lancers entered with four members of the Losier family driving: defending Cup champion Simon and father Rejean in their familiar Evolution 8RS, Martin and rookie Maxime in similar EVO 5 models.

Meanwhile, Jan and Jody Zedril from Winnipeg will try to take sole possession in the Group 2 category. Phil Deans and codriver Carmel Burke from Kingston are leading the Production Sport category and looking for a second class win. Finally, Michel Labramboise from Picton will be the first lady to campaign for the Mitsubishi Cup in 2009. She will start 47th.

"We know all the crews have been working over time to get their cars ready for what seems to be the toughest event of the year”, said Koji Soga, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada. “We have two teams among the top three in the country and this round could be a turning point in the season.”

Event profile: Baie des Chaleurs Rally

The 32nd edition of the Rallye Baie des Chaleurs will head for the forest roads from the New-Richmond sport complex on Friday night. Thousands of spectators and fans will line up for two days to see the cars drift by. After a few speed tests on Friday night, cars will spend the night in New-Richmond and the event will resume Saturday morning at 9:00 AM until 5:30 PM for the podium ceremony. Of the 400 kilometre total distance, more than 190 will be speed stages. For more information, please visit the event web site at www.rallyebdc.com or visit our password free media website at www.mitsubishi-motors-pr.ca.

From Susan Elliott